FAMILY AFFAIR—From left, Gary and Carolyn Weinstein, daughter Robin Weinstein, daughter-in-law Erika Stohl and son Jeff Weinstein have teamed up to try and help those who find themselves in need in today’s economic realities.

Dec. 14 Super Sunday chance to help or be helped

By AMY R. KAUFMAN

article created on: 2008-12-01T00:00:00

Reeling in the wake of the financial hurricane? Alarmed by the avalanche of need?

Don’t feel helpless. You can help—or be helped—on Dec. 14, 2008, when 150 volunteers and thousands of donors do what they can to stem the tide of misfortune here and abroad.

If you’ve overlooked Super Sunday in the past, now is the time to recognize that this annual event is a channel to the world’s most effective relief agencies through the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. JFGP contributed to relief efforts in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, and in the current economic maelstrom funds are needed more than ever to maintain essential social services.

Under the banner “Now More Than Ever,” five members of one Portland family are spearheading this year’s Super Sunday—Carolyn and Gary Weinstein; their daughter, Robin Weinstein; and their son, Jeff, and his wife, Erika Stohl. Carolyn and Robin are Realtors at Hasson Realty.

“A very important part of what happens with Super Sunday is that feeling of community, that we are one big family,” said Carolyn.

A warm, festive and friendly atmosphere will prevail as volunteers, working in two-hour shifts from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., reach out to the community from phone banks in Portland State University’s Hoffmann Hall. Delicious food, contributed by Allen Levin and Café at the J, will be provided throughout the day. Volunteers are welcome to join the Super Sunday force.

“The need for charitable programs rises dramatically when profits fall and costs skyrocket and families struggle to make ends meet,” said Gary. “People don’t realize a large majority of charitable programs in this country ... is made possible by contributions, by everyday citizens, not by corporations or foundation grants.”

“It’s easy to give in good times, and we’ve had many good years recently,” said Carolyn, who co-chaired the 1986 and 1987 JFGP campaigns, served on the agency council and as Women’s Division president, chaired the Jewish Review Committee, and co-chaired the 1982 Super Sunday with her husband. “It’s not so easy to give in hard times, yet the need is greater now. Each one of us needs to stretch and make a meaningful gift of tzedakah. And I go back to the meaning of tzedakah (justice), which is different from charity.”

Erika Stohl said she decided to meet with Josh Stein, director of marketing and communications, before making the commitment to help lead Super Sunday.

“I think that at the beginning I really was apprehensive because I didn’t know where the money was going,” she said, “but Josh gave me a lot insight into where the funds were allocated. What was most interesting to me was that it went to a variety of organizations. It didn’t just go to a synagogue, or just to a JCC. My husband and I have traveled all over the world, and anything that has to do with international impoverished people I support. That’s certainly my passion.”

The opportunities for giving are structured so that there will be negligible impact on the pocketbook.

Carolyn said, “I keep talking of it as a layaway plan. We want to encourage people to make a lovely, meaningful gift that they can pay between now and end of next year, December 2009. Let’s say they make a gift of $365 and pay a dollar a day—it’s not so difficult, where if they wrote a check for $365 it seems enormous.”

Volunteers occasionally encounter a person in need of food, shelter, or counseling, said Stein. This year, for the first time, a member of the Jewish Family and Child Service staff will be on hand to lend a compassionate ear and direct the person to appropriate resources, said Stein.

In addition, he said, everyone is encouraged to bring cookware and utensils to be donated to the Community Warehouse.

“Many organizations are out there providing food to the needy, but often people do not have access to the items to cook the food,” he said. “This is just one more way that we hope to make this Super Sunday a day to focus on those in need.”

A list of needed items appears online at www.jewishportland.org/supersunday.

Robin, who served on the Young Leadership board for a few years, said giving to Federation has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember.

“I can remember going to Sunday School in kindergarten and giving part of my allowance to Keren Ami, and that was part of my growing up ritual,” she said. “I think this is the first time our entire family has done something (with Federation).”

“It’s very important for all of us as a family to really feel tzedakah, because it’s important for us to do justice to others,” said Carolyn.

For more information or to join the party, call Stein at 503-245-5641.